Kumsheen has offered an in-house training program for river guides each spring since 1975. We’re proud of all of our graduates, who now work around the world as raft guides in all parts of Canada and the USA, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, Iceland, and Australia, to name a few.
This summer, we are so stoked to have three new raft guides join our team at Kumsheen!
Our new guides participate in four weeks of training in both paddle and power rafts, and must successfully complete four familiarization trips down the Thompson River. After official certification from veteran guides, they are ready to lead their own commercial trips.
In our humble opinion: our river guides have the best summer job ever! Check out the new guide profiles below.
Annie
Our first guide is Annie. While she is new to Kumsheen, she was hired on as a senior guide as she has previously guided on the Red Deer River in Alberta. In the offseason, Annie ski patrols at Castle Mountain Resort. To stay in shape, she uses power raft motors for bench pressing and eats Kraft Dinner every night.
Why did you want to become a raft guide?
Annie: After taking a white water kayaking course, I loved the feeling of being small amongst the waves. I had coworkers at another job who were raft guides and they said it was a cool job, so I decided to apply. Three years later and I’m still doing it!
What’s your biggest goal for the season?
Annie: My biggest goal is to spend as much time on the water as possible – I’m happy to be on a raft or kayak! Any river is a good place to be.
Which rapid gets you the most hyped?
Annie: My favourite rapids are Krazy Arpats and Cutting Board! At high water, the waves are huge and so much fun, whether you’re a guide or a rafter.
Thomas
Next up is Thomas. Coming all the way from Penetanguishene, Ontario, Thomas completed a Bachelor’s degree in Outdoor Adventure Leadership, and has been working in BC ever since. His secret talents include plant identification and dad jokes.
Why did you want to become a raft guide?
Thomas: It seemed like a fun job – I’ve always loved being on the water and learning about the water. The job style also really appealed to me – you get to meet a lot of new people and everyone’s super happy to be here.
Other than the legendary Thompson, what other rivers have you conquered?
Thomas: As part of my degree, my program went on a twelve day canoe trip in school on both the Coulonge Noire and the Ottawa River, and a four day trip on the Spanish River. In BC, I’ve rafted on the Chilliwack, Nahatlatch, Seton, Nicola, and of course the Thompson River.
What’s the most rewarding part of being a raft guide?
Thomas: Seeing all the smiles on the raft and making people laugh! I love sharing about the surroundings of the Thompson with guests; it really is packed with interesting history.
Syd
Our last new guide is Syd. She is currently studying microbiology at UBC. At home in Saskatoon, she has a chocolate labradoodle named Georgie. After work, you can find Syd chasing butterflies and frolicking in fields of yaro.
Why did you want to become a raft guide?
Syd: I love being outside and active, so it seemed like a cool summer job. The dynamic environment was attractive to me, there are always new challenges and ways to push myself. Being on the water is a huge adrenaline rush!
What’s the best part of working at Kumsheen?
Syd: Definitely the people. The staff is a tight knit group, we all have the same days off so we spend lots of time together. I also like how everyday at the resort is different, it keeps me on my toes!
What would you say to someone that’s on the fence about becoming a raft guide?
Syd: Go for it! If you’ve never been on the water before, it’s a steep learning curve, but totally worth it! You learn so much in training and it’s super rewarding to put it all into practice out on the water.
Next time you’re at the resort, be sure to say hi to our awesome new guides!!
Can you picture yourself in their (wet) shoes? To learn more about guide school and river rafting certification, checkout the our Training page.
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